1. The Hebrews

2. BACKGROUND
The Hebrews were the first to be monotheistic, or believe in one god. Judaism is descended from the Hebrew religion.
Followers have been called the Hebrews, then the Israelites, – today followers of Judaism are called Jews
Holy book called the Torah, god called Yahweh
The Torah has 5 books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

3. Monotheistic Religions: Holy Book Analogy
Judaism is to ______________as _________________ is to Bible as Islam is to Koran (Qur’an).

4. The Beginning of the Hebrews
Abraham is the father of the Hebrews (and all monotheistic religions!)
Lived in Ur 1800 BC, then moved to Canaan.
Torah states that God made a covenant, or promise with Abraham; if he moved to Canaan, he and his descendants would become God’s chosen people if they followed God’s laws

5. Abraham had two sons, one named Isaac and one named Ishmael
Abraham had two sons, one named Isaac and one named Ishmael. According to the Torah, Isaac was to be the leader of the Hebrews; Ishmael was also promised his own kingdom.
The descendents of Ishmael later became followers of Islam.

6. Isaac had a son named Jacob, who was also called Israel
Isaac had a son named Jacob, who was also called Israel. The Hebrews took the name Israelites. Jacob had 12 sons – Joseph was the youngest.
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers but ended up advisor to the Pharaoh in Egypt.

8. From Canaan to Egypt
The Hebrews, now called Israelites, had to leave Canaan because there was a famine, or lack of food
Israelites went to Egypt to look for help; they settled there peacefully for hundreds of years

9. Leaving Egypt- The Exodus
Israelites were slaves in Egypt; the Pharaoh also ordered first born sons to be killed
Moses’s mom floated him up the Nile in a basket, where he was adopted by the daughter/wife of the Pharaoh
God spoke to Moses and told him to lead his people out of Egypt - this journey out of Egypt was called the Exodus

10. 10 Plagues According to the Torah
In the first plague, God changed the water into blood. In the second plague, God made frogs come everywhere. In the third plague, God made lice everywhere. In the fourth plague, God made flies everywhere. In the fifth plague, God made a plague on livestock. In the sixth plague, God gave everyone horrible boils (sores). In the seventh plague, God made hail and fire destroy the crops. In the eighth plague, God sent locusts to eat the crops (like grasshoppers). In the ninth plague, God made it be always dark, except where the Jews were. In the tenth plague, God killed the oldest son in every Egyptian family.

11. After the Exodus
Moses and his people wandered the desert for 40 years as nomads.
According to the Torah, Moses received the 10 Commandments, the basis of law for the Israelites, on Mt. Sinai
Moses eventually died and put Joshua in charge of finishing the journey to Canaan

12. The Fight for Canaan
The Israelites wandered the desert for 40 years after the Exodus.
Moses chose Joshua to lead the people into Canaan – they had to fight to get back in!
The Israelites were divided into 12 tribes and named for one of Jacob’s sons; these became Jacob’s troops.

13. Fighting continued for 200+ years
When the fighting was over the Israelites became farmers and herders in Canaan.
The 12 Tribes divided the land; neighbors formed alliances with each other.
Judges, not kings, gave advice on ruling and kept the 12 tribes united

14. The Kingdom of Israel
Israelites were very strong in their monotheistic belief.
They traded with other cultures but kept their own culture.
Believed God’s laws applied to all people (even kings), and believed that everyone had a personal responsibility to God and to their neighbors.

15. Kings - #1 Saul 1029 BC the Philistines invaded Israelite territory
Israelites untied under one king to fight off attacks
Saul was the chosen king – great warrior, helped keep back the enemy

16. #2 - David
David became the next king – he drove out the Philistines in 1000 BC and won control of the city of Jerusalem
He was a very strong, popular king
This is where the star of David comes from
This is the same David from the story of David and Golliath

17. #3 - Solomon
Solomon was the son of David, and another strong and wise king
Israel became very powerful under his rule
Traded with Phoenicia
Many building projects
Temple of Jerusalem – center of religious life for Israelites; people came from all over to go there

18. The Kingdom Divides
Solomon dies, and Israel splits into two separate kingdoms (pg 337)
Tribes in the North were not loyal to Solomon’s son and did not want to pay taxes
North – Israel
South (including Jerusalem) – Judah
From Judah, we get Judaism and Jews

19. More Captivity 722 BC, Assyria invades Israel; the kingdom is over
Assyrians are conquered by Babylonians in 586 BC
Nebuchadnezzar destroys temple of Jerusalem and takes Jews as slaves for 50 years; keep their culture and hope to return to Judah
539 BC Persians conquer Babylon. Persians believed in religious toleration – their king freed the Jews and they returned to Judah
The Jews rebuilt the Temple of Jerusalem